Knockdown box, crate, and like construction



H. B. COLLINS.

KNOCKDOWN BOX, CRATE, AND LIKE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27' I9I8.

Patented Jan. 11@,11922.

gwvawtoz HORHCEB- COLLINS members A and B, as a consequence, the

wall D may be cut away at 20 to accommodate that portion of the member A which forms the T-shaped slot or groove for the reception of the tongue on the member B.

As above shown, this construction may be applied to all sorts of structures wherein walls are intended to be disposed at right angles to each other and held in detachable interlocking engagement, but the device is particularly applicable as a means for connecting the side, end, top and bottom walls of a knock-down box, crate or like structure, or connecting the end walls to the side walls or the bottom wall to the side and end walls. A structure of this character is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The end walls are des ignated C and the side walls are designated D. These side walls and end walls are illustrated as formed of wood, composition, or other like material. Coacting with the side and end walls are a top wall and a bottom wall. The top wall only is illustrated in Figure 4, this wall being designated E. The bottom wall is the same as the top wall. For the purpose of connecting the top wall to the side and end walls of the box T attach to the upper edge of the wall C a strip of metal 23 bent to form a T-shaped flange 24L This flange and the base flange are cut away as at 25 to permit the engagement of the wall D with the wall C. The top wall E is formed with a longitudinal slot 26 on its under face, this slot being T-shaped in cross section to provide a portion 27 to receive the flange 24, one wall of this slot, however, terminating short of the end of the member E as shown in Figure 5 at 28. In this construction it is obvious that the top may be slid into place and that the bottom may also be slid into place. While I have heretoforereterred to the members D as being the side walls and the members C as the end members, it will be obvious that the terms side and end, top and bottom are purely relative. Nor do I wish to be limited to the con struction illustrated in Figure 4: as a means for connecting the top and bottom members to the body of the box. While in Figure A T have illustrated the top R as being formed with a groove cut out of the top, it is obvious that the margin of the top may be cut away in the same manner as is the margin of the end member C and'a metallic member corresponding to the member A to be used to the same effect. Inasmuch as the cross section of the margin of this board E with the metallic strip attached thereto is to be the same as the cross section of the member C in Figure it is not believed necessary construction.

In assembling a box, the bottom is first engaged with the end boards then the side to illustrate this "j oints and with 2 with metallic strip A,

boards are engaged with the end boards and then the top board E is engaged with the end members as illustrated. It will be understood that one end of each of the grooves it should be closed or otherwise formed with a stop 21 to prevent the pushing of the corresponding tongue beyond a point of accurate alinement. The structure may be further strengthened by perforating the strips of metal which form the member B and forming projectinglugs 22 or pins in the corresponding portions of the members A which will enter these perforations in the member B, thus relieving strain on the metallic strips.

It will be seen that in the first place the means illustrated forms a very convenient manner of connecting two walls to each other which may be applied in a large number of different circumstances and, furthermore, it is to be particularly noted that where the side walls of the structure are to be made of wood, composition, or other like material, that my invention does away with the necessity of forming grooves in the wood or other material of the wall itself, and of forming tongues in the wood of the other wall. I am aware that it is old to form boxes, crates and like structure with tongue and groove a dovetail tongue extending into a corresponding dovetail groove, but T do not claim this and it is obvious that by forming the ends of the box or other structure with the members A and B that I eliminate the necessity of tonguing and grooving the side walls, very greatly reduce the cost of construction, permit the parts to be readily assembled and interlocked and secure a very rigid engagement between the parts. Furthermore it will be obvious that these members A and B and A and B may be struck up or otherwise formed from sheet metal at a very small'cost, that these members may initially be made of long pieces or lengths of material and then these lengths may be readily cut to fit any sized box, crate or trunk, thus cheapening the cost of constructlon very greatly. While I have illustrated T-shaped grooves to receive T-shaped tongues, it will be obvious that this is only one of many forms which these tongues and grooves might have in cross section and that I do not wish to be limited to the exact form of these interlocking members.

Having described my invention, claim is i 1. A construction of the character described including walls disposed at right angles to each other, one of said walls extending across'the end face of the other wall closely adjacent said wall, and means for connecting said walls comprising sheet metal connecting members, each of said members having parallel sides engaging the sides of what I one of said walls, an end portion engaging the end of said wall, one of said members having one of its side portions extended in wardly toward the other side portion of said member to form a T-shaped slot, the '5"- shaped slot portion of said member being braced by engagement with the end portion and inner surface of the side member from which it extends, the other connecting member having it side portions extended inwardly to provide a T-shaped tongue, said tongue being insertible in said slot, the outer surface of the first mentioned side portion of the first mentioned connecting member engaging the inwardly extending side portions of said second mentioned connecting member, whereby the tongue is retained in the slot and the wall thereof braced by contact of the inwardly extending side portions of the second mentioned member with the irst mentioned member.

2. A construction of the character described including walls disposed at right angles to each other, one of said walls extending across the end face of the other wall closely adjacent said wall, and means for connecting said walls comprising sheet metal connecting members, each of said members having parallel sides engaging the sides of one of said walls, an end portion engaging the end of said wall, one of said members having one of its side portions extended inwardly toward the other side portion of said member to form a. T-shaped slot, the T-shaped slot portion of said member being braced by engagement with the end portion and inner surface of the side member from which it extends, the other connecting member having it side portions extended inwardly to provide a T-shaped tongue, said tongue being insertible in said slot, the outer surface of the first mentioned side portion ofthe first mentioned connecting member engaging the inwardly extending side portions of said second mentioned connecting member, a T-shaped tongue carried by the upper and lower edges of certain of said walls, the ends of said tongues being cut away adjacent the T-shaped slots to permit application of the "E -shaped connecting members, and top and bottom members connecting said walls, said top and bottom members having T-shaped slots adapted to receive T-shaped tongues carried by the upper and lower portions of said wall 3. ldeans for connecting the walls of containers comprising a pair of sheet metal connecting members, one of said members being substantially U-shaped in cross section and having the opposed portions of its sides adjacent the end wall of said member extended inwardly, said opposed portions terminating adjacent each other to substantially form a resilient T-shaped tongue, the re maining member being U-shaped in cross section, and having a portion of one wall extended inwardly of the side wall of said member, and then extended parallel to said side wall to substantially form a i l -shaped slot, inwardly of the side wall of the second mentioned member, whereby the connection of said members to each other is disposed inwardly of one of the walls of the container.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HORACE B. COLLINS.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HALLEY, EMILY JorrNsToN. 

